11 Gazans killed in fresh Israeli air strikes

GAZA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli air strikes killed 11 Palestinians on Saturday across the Gaza Strip as cross-border bombardment between Israel and Hamas rulers of Gaza continued for the 13th day in a row.

Spokesman for the health ministry Ashraf al-Qedra said predawn and early air strikes claimed the lives of 11 Palestinians in the northern and southern cities of the blockaded seaside enclave.

Israeli army started on late Thursday a limited ground operation in Gaza after 11 days of bloody air strikes to end rocket fire into Israel.

The operation came after Egyptian and international efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza have failed.

Hamas warned that Israel would pay a heavy price for commencing a ground offensive on Gaza.

On July 8, Israel started an all-out aerial operation dubbed Protective Edge to stop rocket fire from Gaza.

The operation has so far claimed the lives of 318 Palestinians and injured more than 2,260 others.